Air-trapping device for lubricating cups



June 26, 1928. 1,675,036

' w. B. LYNCH AIR TRAPPING DEVICE FOR LUBRICATING CUPS Filed Feb. 25, 1926 MLL/AM5.LY/VCH.

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Patented June 26, 1928.

. Q 1 1 3 1; on cH, GALIFGRNIA','-ASSIG'1\IOR*TO AncA ir nnron- Ton COMPANY, orrone enncn canlronum, aconroaarron or Q I-F R AE.

i AIR-TRAPPINQ lnuvrcn non ALIIBRIQA'DINGJGUPS;

- im QtiQ tWQ renew it 1 W 1 eta ie-1 9 594 I r c My invention relatestosolf feeding cati fgbups' of that generalcharacter wh ch ip er t e erase ele e of al 1,11 the cup to deliver oil to "a bearing, thea r being 5 expanded b the heat generated at the earin r U is essential in lubricating cups of; character that there be. provided in the cup quari'tity'of air filllfllcilit 'to"prov1de the 'q" si ween e or 11109 WW t 5 ipefi d y the a ti i 'Qf h at o ew -beef.- ficientoil from thecufp to properly lubr cate the bearing with w'l ichit is'associ ated. In fi l fi he C p e her o eP op ed there 5 is' the constant danger of supplying an excessive qiliantity' offoji to the cup, inwhich eventpracticallyall of the air 1s expelled froin' t'he cup; VYh'a't little; airremains n thecup will not, when hea'ted,1exp u with suifici'ent force and rapidity'to eject the oil and thus properlylu'bricate the bearing. It is therefore a purpose of my invention to provide a simple and inexpensive device capable ofbeing readily associated with a self-feeding lubricating cup of the character above specified which functions to limit the amountof oil introduced into the cup during the filling operation so as to positively insure the retention in the cup of sufiicient air to render it, when heated, responsive with the required expansive force and rapidity to eject oil in sufficient quantity to properly lubricate a bearing. c

'I will describe only two forms of air trapping devices for lubricating'cups embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1- is a view showing in vertical section a self-feeding lubricating cup having applied thereto one form of air trappin device embodying my invention; 7 I

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1; V

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing another form of air trapping device embodying my invention in applied position with respect to the cup.

Referring specifically to the drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the Views, my invention in both of its embodiments may be applied to any self-feeding lubricating cup which employs the expansion of air when heated to automatically feed the oil contained in the cup to a bearing However, in. the pres n ;i tan e ;;li ve S awna lu crfiirs qp F minists a ellev cylindr cal I b en la e-ra 1ir w or g ass c sed i s piios t e d by fla ged ap 6am 'T l liaving aXialopenings through which threadfe cllends of a m e nber 18 extend, .i ilth are l rfu ng gingw t in'a nipp 1:9'an9l. the upper end engagedby acap nut i'e'fineniber .18 is. shown a ol d-w th tijon'ofa duct 21 in its lower end on, which is'in verticaljalinernentiwith tl duct22ofthenipple19. A. lateral duct 23 forn iedin the 18 at. apoint adjac n he bott l lj f h wand thr u this duct oil from the cup can pass into he duct 1 and: l -w li'dly tem-the .CuP thrqe h the duct 22-: The n ppl 1 39.1 i exteriorly threaded foiz engag'einent within the suita le Op ing .O f ear ng (no sh wn) whereby oil dischai'gedfrom the duct 22 is supplied to the bearing.

Thebody 15,together with the caps 16 and 17 providean air-tight reservoir in which the oil being supplied to the bearing is stored, and this reservoir may be resupplied with oil as necessary through a filling open 111g normally closed by a screw plug 241:.

The airtrapping device shown in F igures 1 and 2 comprises a tubular body 25 which, in the present instance, is of frustoconical form, with its large or upper end provided with a laterally extending annular flange 26. In the applied position of the dev1ce as shown in Figure 1, the-flange 26 is clamped between the cap 17 and the upper end of the body 15, and with the body 25 in surrounding and spaced relation to the member 18, as well as in spaced relation to the wall of the body 15. With the device so positioned, it will be clear that when supplying oil to the reservoir through the filling opening to which access is had by removal of the plug 24, the oil is discharged into the device and then into the reservoir. When the level of the oil in the reservoir reaches the lower end of the device, it serves to seal the device against further expulsion of air from the reservoir so that the air between the bodies 25and 15 is consequently r05 trapped within the reservoir against expulsion. Should one continue to supply oil to the cup the oil will rise within the body 25 of the device until it overflows through: the filling opening, but this does not inter 11.

The amount of air trapped as above de-- scribed is suflicient to set up the necessary pressure when heated to force oil from the cup through the ducts 23,21 and 22, it be- I ing understood that the air is heated by the heat generated at the bearing with which the cup is associated, or by the atmosphere around the cup.

Referring now toFigure 3, I have herein shown another form of air'trapping device embodying my invention which comprises a tube 27 welded or otherwise secured at its upper end to the cap 17 and in surrounding relation to the filling opening, which latter is normally closed by the plug 24. This tube 27 functions in the same manner as that described in connection with the first device in that it operates to trap a quantity of air in the reservoir of the cup and in a manner to prevent the complete expulsion of air therefrom or the complete filling of the cup with oil, thus insuring at alltimes the retention in the cup of suflicient air to set up the necessary pressure when heated to expel the oilfroln the cup to the bearing. -Although I have shown and described only two forms of air trapping devices for lubricating cups embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from "the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

-Iclaim: 1 r

1. As an article of manufacture, an air trapping device for self-lubricating cups comprising a tubular body, and a flange on the bod adapted to be clamped between one end of the body of the cup and-a closure cap for the body so as to support'the device in the cup. V

2. As an article of manufacture, an air trapping device for self-lubricating cups (:OlIlpl'iSlIlgH tubular body of frusto-conical form, and an outwardly extending annular flangeat thelarge end of the body adapted to be clamped between one end of the body of the cup and a closure cap for the body so as to support the device in thecup.

3. As an article of manufacture, an air trapping device for self-lubricating cups comprising a tubular body, and means on the body by which the latter is adapted to be clamped between one end of the body of the cup and a closure cap for the cup body so as tosupport the device in the cup.

WILLIAM'B. LYNCH. 

